It’s gold, gold, gold! Front man Tim Freidman wasn’t just talking about the Aussies going for gold at the Olympics but their great hits Truth, Beauty & A Picture Of You has gone three times gold.
This on top of two sold out shows at the Governor Hindmarsh caps things off just nicely for Freidman and Co. One thing is for sure that when you see The Whitlams play you guaranteed of a quality night out and with a bankable back catalogue of hits the crowd simply loved it. If you subtract the loose forty-year-old slappers it was a great crowd who were in fine voice and knew the que for their participation.
My question is – could you honestly see The Whitlams playing anywhere else in Adelaide besides ‘The Gov’? I don’t think so, The Whitlams are an institution playing one of Adelaide’s finest institutions.
This show unlike any other in recent times was purely focused on the greatest hits and memories plus a few b-sides and other gems that not often make the set list. The band was in form hitting it earlier and Freidman was his usual charming self behind the keys. Early hits in the set included Blow Up The Pokies, Gough (which was dedicated to the former PM who isn’t well at the minute), I Make Hamburgers and Thank You (For Loving Me At My Worst).
It was interesting to the commentary after this song and his ventures on talkback radio on 5AA earlier the previous day where Amanda Blair was trying to get him fired up and dis a few talkback listeners.
Following My Tracks from Undeniably got a dust off for the occasion followed not long after by Royal In The Afternoon. The band left the stage leaving Freidman to move in to solo mode starting off with Buy Now Pay Later complete with audience backing vocals. A couple of songs later which include a dedication to former founding member Stevie Plunder the big hit No Aphrodisiac went down a treat.
Before the encore they finished in a blaze of glory with Shining, I Will Not Go Quietly and the slight improvised You Sound Like Louis Burdett. I think The Whitlams could have packed it in here and the crowd would have left satisfied. Two encores is just reward for the punters coming along with early hits including Made Me Hard and End Of Your World and forgotten b-side Coming Up For Air all fitting to close out the night.
Great show!
